Monday Feb 9th, Protest During Herzog’s visit to Sydney

Upwards of 20,000 people attended this protest in Town Hall Square in Sydney.

Police presence was intense. After around an hour of speeches, the plan was to march to NSW state parliament. This has been denied by a late court ruling that day. The crowd, nonetheless, was determined to march. Police had blocked access to the square during the speeches and were refusing to let the march go ahead.

After some time the crowd had spilled into George St and was chanting, restless and wanting to march. The police were closing in on the protestors. Requests were made to head to Central. Some were urging the crowd in that direction, but no one was moving.

At some point, there was pepper spray, and police moved in.

A sad day in Sydney.